GREENBELT, Md. — Bengi Bernard Knox, 47, of White Plains, received a nine-year prison sentence followed by four years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute phencyclidine, known as PCP, in a case involving operations across Maryland and Washington, D.C. The sentencing occurred on August 20, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the outcome alongside Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, and Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader. Knox pleaded guilty on February 20, 2025, to conspiring with Kevin Lee Simon Jr., Malik Marvin Lloyd and others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute PCP, a Schedule II controlled substance, from at least December 2022 through March 29, 2023.
Court documents detail multiple transactions. On January 5, 2023, Knox met Lloyd in Washington, D.C., where Lloyd exited Knox’s vehicle carrying a vial of PCP. The next day, they met on Clay Street in Northeast Washington, D.C., to exchange money for the prior distribution. On February 7, 2023, Simon informed Knox of a new PCP source offering “super crunch” product, quoting $13,500 for an unaltered gallon or $12,500 for one with a cutting agent.
Authorities executed search warrants on March 29, 2023, at Knox’s White Plains residence and vehicle, recovering 60.992 grams of PCP, 23.68 grams of cocaine, 0.95 grams of heroin-fentanyl mixture, a Glock Model 43 9mm pistol with six rounds, 19 additional 9mm rounds and $2,257 in cash. The firearm was found in Knox’s closet near a PCP bottle. Knox possessed the drugs with intent to distribute.
Simon received a 12-year sentence on May 29, 2025, for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of PCP, possession with intent to distribute PCP and cocaine base, and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Lloyd was sentenced to eight years on June 5, 2025, for similar conspiracy and possession charges.
The investigation fell under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces program, which targets high-level traffickers through multi-agency collaboration. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Coreen Mao and Timothy Hagan prosecuting.
White Plains, in Charles County, has seen ongoing drug enforcement efforts. Local operations often involve fentanyl and cocaine, with authorities seizing significant quantities in recent raids. For instance, Charles County Sheriff’s Office reported multiple arrests in 2024 for distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl-laced products that pose risks to users.
PCP, a hallucinogenic drug, remains a concern in the region, though fentanyl dominates overdose statistics. Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response data indicates synthetic opioids like fentanyl drove most drug-related deaths in 2023, with Southern Maryland counties reporting elevated rates compared to state averages. The Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area encompasses Southern Maryland, where traffickers use urban-rural routes for distribution.
OCDETF, established in 1982, coordinates federal, state and local agencies to dismantle networks. In Maryland, operations have led to numerous convictions, including a 2025 case in Cecil County where state police seized firearms and drugs in a trafficking probe. The program’s FY 2025 budget supports enhanced intelligence and prosecutor-led initiatives to counter threats from gangs and transnational groups.
Southern Maryland’s proximity to Washington, D.C., facilitates cross-jurisdictional trafficking, with routes like U.S. Route 301 serving as corridors. Charles County, home to about 166,000 residents per recent census estimates, collaborates with federal partners on task forces to address this. A 2024 St. Mary’s County bust netted over $2 million in cocaine, crack and fentanyl, marking the largest seizure there. Similar efforts in Charles County included a September 2024 raid in White Plains yielding cocaine, firearms and distribution equipment.
This case underscores federal commitment to combating Southern Maryland drug trafficking, leveraging OCDETF for coordinated responses. Residents can report tips to local authorities or DEA hotlines to aid investigations.
